Kidney stones affect people of all ages. About 1 in 10 Americans will suffer a kidney stone at some time in their life. There is a wide range of symptoms associated with kidney stones, including but not limited to vomiting, fever, severe pain, and nausea. If you suspect you have kidney stones in Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, and Delray Beach, FL, reach out to the expert medical team at Broward Specialty Group. To schedule a consultation, call an office near you or book online.
What Are Kidney Stones?
A kidney stone may be as small as a single grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. The smaller stones generally leave the kidney during urination. However, bigger stones get stuck in the ureter, the slim tube that moves urine from the kidneys up to the bladder.
What Are The Associated Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
The extremely tiny kidney stones have accompanying symptoms. But for the larger stones, the most common symptoms include fever, vomiting, frequent urination, severe pain in your side or back, nausea, pain or discomfort when urinating, difficulty beginning urination, hematuria (blood in the urine), and radiating pain, which may reach the genital, groin, or belly area.These symptoms may also develop in other conditions, such as bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For comprehensive diagnosis and treatment to address these symptoms, contact Broward Specialty Group.
How To Diagnose Kidney Stones?
The team at Broward Specialty Group conducts a physical exam, cross-checks your medical history, and discusses your symptoms to come up with an extensive diagnosis for your kidney stones.The diagnostic process incorporates blood tests and urinalysis and might also include imaging tests such as computed tomography scan (CT), intravenous pyelogram, X-rays, and ultrasound. If a metabolic disorder is a suspect for your condition, the providers will perform metabolic testing.
What Are The Available Kidney Stones Treatment Alternatives?
Broward Specialty Group provides several forms of kidney stone treatment. If you aren’t experiencing noticeable symptoms, your specialist may recommend close monitoring without instant treatment. But if you are experiencing symptoms and are seeking relief, your treatment options may include:
- Medication
- Medication is often blended with other types of therapy to offer lasting pain relief.
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
- In ESWL, sound waves break the patient's kidney stones into small pieces that can be passed through urine. The treatment procedure is non-invasive but necessitates anesthesia.
Ureteroscopy
In ureteroscopy, a long ultraslim camera visualizes the kidney stone. This stone is either extracted using a small basket or broken into smaller pieces with lithotripsy before removal. As with ESWL, ureteroscopy is non-invasive and requires anesthesia.Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
In PCNL, you have a small lower back incision. Wires and dilators access the stone, and a nephroscope removes it. Your specialist may break up the bigger stones using a laser before this removal.
Urethral Stent
A urethral stent is a small tube, which goes through your ureter tube, between the kidney and bladder. Most kidney stone surgeries incorporate the urethral stent, which enhances fast healing and avoids swelling. This procedure is done in-house.If you speculate you have kidney stones, get in touch with the specialists at Broward Specialty Group. To request an appointment, call their office or book online.
